By Hanika Kashyap
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Friday, September 12, criticised the Election Commission (EC), alleging that it was helping the BJP-led government in “vote chori.” Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister cautioned that the nation could face a Nepal-style protest if such practices are not curbed by the poll body.
The 52-year-old said that it was the Election Commission’s responsibility to ensure that no vote was stolen everywhere. He remarked that everyone was aware that when elections could not be won through vote theft, attempts were made to suppress votes with the use of force. He further cautioned that if such incidents continued, people in India might take to the streets, similar to what had happened in neighboring countries.
The 20th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh pointed to past elections in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that appointments during the polls were influenced by caste. He suggested that presiding officers and election staff were largely chosen from the then chief minister’s community and questioned whether officials like the DM and SP were not instructed accordingly. He added that despite repeated objections from his party, the ruling side went on to claim 77 per cent of the votes.
Yadav alleged that instances of electoral malpractice had been evident in several constituencies. He claimed that the Rampur and Mirapur polls were manipulated and pointed out that during the Ayodhya election, even a minister’s aide was caught. He further asserted that outsiders, including people from places like Amethi, were brought in to influence the outcome.
The street protests unfolding in Nepal began with opposition to a social media ban but have since grown into a wider anti-corruption movement. The chaos has led to the burning of the Parliament and the Supreme Court, and other key buildings.
Reports suggest that an interim government led by Sushila Karki and Kulman Ghising could be in the works. Interestingly, in recent years, India’s neighbours including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh have witnessed similar uprisings.